Combined abdominal supporter and catamenial sack.



R. H. & M. L. KEAGY. COMBINED ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER AND GATAMENIAL SACK.APPLICATION )FILED APILZS, 1910.

Patented Nov; 29, 1910.

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R. H. L M. L. KEAGY. COMBINED ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER AND GATAMENIAL SACK.APPLICATION FILED APILZB, 1910.

976,883. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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RUDOLPH H. KEAGY .AND MARTIN L. KEAGY, 0F CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS OFONE- I-IALF 'IO DANIEL L. I-IOLWICK, OF CANTON, OHIO.

COMBINED ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER AND CATAIVIENIAL SACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Application filed April 28, 1910. Serial No. 558,103.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, RUDOLPH H. KEAGY and MARTIN L. KEAGY, both citizensof the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark andState of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Combined AbdominalSupporter and Catamenial Sack, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to improvements in combined abdominal supportersand catamenial sacks and has particular reference to a form of suchdevices in which the supporter and sack cooperate in producing acomfortable and satisfactory article, the sack being detachable andbeing in the form of a receptacle rather than an absorbent pad.

1t will be understood that it is usually desirable to use an abdominalsupporter in conjunction with a catamenial sack but that it maysometimes be desirable to wear the one or the other device separately.

The objects of the present invention are to generally improve articlesof the character mentioned, to provide a simple, convenient,comfortable, sanitary and effective device, to successfully combine anabdominal supporter with a catamenial sack while making provision fortheir ready disassociation when desired, and to so construct thecatamenial sack that accidental spilling or leaking of its contents willbe prevented. These objects, together with other objects readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, we attain by the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, although our invention may beembodied in a variety of other forms of construction, that formillustrated being chosen by way of example.

1n the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined abdominalsupporter and catamenial sack embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is afragmentary vertical section through the catamenial sack on a medianventro-dorsal plane. Fig. 3 is a top view of the sack. Fig. 4 is asection on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of thedraining valve in opened position. Fig. G is a vertical sectional viewof a modified form of sack on a median ventrodorsal plane. Fig. 7 is atop view of that form of sack shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a verticalsectional view of a second modification of the sack on a medianventro-dorsal plane. Fig. 9 is a top view of that form of sack shown inFig. 8.

Throughout the several views similar reference numerals indicate similarparts.

The abdominal supporter', which also constitutes the supporting meansfor the catamenial sack, as will hereinafter appear, is provided withthe abdominal apron l, composed preferably of light but strong fabricand being adapted to cover and support the lower ventral portion of thebody. The apron 1 is provided with the integral upper lateral extensions2, the lower lateral eX- tensions 8, and the sack attaching nap 4. Tothe extensions 2 is connected the waistband 5 in any suitable adjustablemanner, as by buckles The super-sacral band 7 and the sub-sacral band 8are both attached by similar adjustable means, as the buckles 9 and 10,to the extensions 3. The band 7 is adapted to extend around the body andacross the back in the super-sacral region, while the band 8 is adaptedto extend similarly across the back in the sub-sacral region.

lfor the purpose of connecting the various bands and keeping the same inproper relative position, the dorsal connecting strap 11 and thedorso-lateral straps 12 are provided. These straps are connected attheir upper ends to the waistband 5, intermediate their ends to thesuper-sacral band 7, and by means of the loops 13, buckles 14 and eyes15 are adjustably connected to the sub-sacral band 8 in the well knownmanner illustrated in the drawings.

Attached to lthe apron 1, and ruiming from the lower lateral extensionon one side to the corresponding extension on the other, is a supportingband, preferably of elastic material such as rubber fabric, illustratedin the drawings in dotted lines at 16. This band extends across theapron in such position as to complete the band 7 across the abdomen,said bands 7 and 16 lying in the same inclined plane, as shown inFig. 1. 1n addition to the supporting band just described two auxiliarysupporting bands, 17 and 18, cross each other near the center of theapron 1, each extending from the upper lateral extension on one side,downwardly and diagonally across the apron to a point at the edge ofsaid apron intermediate the lower 'lateral extension and the sackattaching flap on the other side. These bands 16, 17 and 18 not onlystrengthen the apron 1 and propriate body encircling bands, but mateisof spheroidal form, the shortest aXis being sired'. In cross section thesuspending band 19, not only assists in maintaining the aprially aid inmaintaining said apron in shape to properly support the abdomen.

rlhe catamenial sack is formed of a single piece of rubber. Thesuspending band 19 is provided at its front and rear ends with parts ofsnap fasteners, 2O and 21 respectively, ofwell known form and adapted toco-act with corresponding fastener parts on the flap t and on the band Swhere the connecting strap 11 is attached. By reason of this method ofconnection the sack portion of the device may be readily and quicklydisconnected from the supporter when deis of the form illustrated inFig. 4, the beads or rolls'at 22 on the edges being of such oval orrounding form as to prevent undue chafing of the skin coming in contactwith said edges.

For the purpose of providing ventilation and thus adding to the comfortof the wearer the bandV 19 is providedwith numerous air openings,23,adapted to permit the free access of air to the skin beneath saidband. At a point intermediate the ends of the band 19 the vulvar opening24 is provided. Around the edge of this opening a roll of rubber, 25,formed integrally with the band propriate shape of the opening 24 butalso serves to more closely fit the form of the wearer and preventaccidental spilling or leaking of the contents of the sack. It should benoted, however, at this point, that the said roll 25 may be formed ofsolid rubber, or may be provided vinternally with an air chamber' orsponge rubber core to increase its pliability. It' desired, also,V aform wire 26 may be located in said roll for the purpose of maintainingthe opening 24 in proper shape. Located immediately below said opening,and on the under side of the band 19 is the receiving cup 27, the wallsof which are formed of rubber integral with the band 19. Below said cupis the retaining receptacle 28, the rubber walls of which are alsoformedintegrally with the band 19 and cup 27. From the cup 27 the connectingopeninO' 29 leads into the receptacle 2S.

1 In tlie preferable form of construction, illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and3, the receptacle transversely disposed so as to impede the movements ofthe wearer in the least possible degree. At the lower side of thereceptacle 28 the outlet valve 30 is provided. This valve may be of anysimple construction, such as that illustrated in the drawings, andadapted to be closed to retain the contents of the receptacle, or to beopened to discharge the same. Across the connecting opening 29 a'screen, 31, is arranged. This screen may be formed of wire gauze andserves two purposes. It maintains the shape of the opening, preventingit from frame portions 33 which are adapted to bev removably seated inannular grooves 1n the rubber walls, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Extendingfrom the center of the screen 31 to the edge of the screen 32 is asponge holder 3e in which a sponge 35 may be arranged to absorb aportion of the contents of the receptacle. It should be noted, however,that the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may be used without thescreens 31 and 32 and without the sponge holder if desired, an ordinarysponge being arranged in the receptacle 28 or omitted entirely, asdesired.

Formed integrally with the receptacle and cup portions is theback-draining receptacle 36, located below the rea-r portion of the cup27 and to the rear of the receptacle 2S. The interior of the receptacle2S communicates with the back-draining receptacle through the opening37. The purpose of the backdraining receptacle 36 is to permit thewearer to assume a recumbent position without danger of spilling thecontents of the receptacle 28. Then such position is assumed saidcontents will temporarily drain through the opening 37 into thereceptacle 3G.

In the modifications illustrated in Figs. G and 7 the screens 31 and 32are not en1- ployed, nor is the sponge holder used. The receptacle 38 inthis form of device is not of spheroidal form but said receptacle andthe back-draining receptacle are united in one container or lower cup,39, provided with the outlet valve 30 as in the preferred form ofdevice. In the modification illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 the screens andsponge holder are also not used, but the lower wall of the receiving cupis slightly raised midway between the front and rear thereof, producingtwo concave upper surfaces, each provided with an opening, as 29 and4-0. In this form the retaining receptacle is of a form intermediatethat illustrated in Fig. 2 and that illustrated in Fig. 6, as will beseen from an inspection of the drawings.

It should be noted that portions of the bands 5, 7 and 8, or the entirebands may be constructed of elastic material to increase the comfort ofthe wearer and permit greater freedom of movement. Likewise the straps,

A bove llt) efficient and successful manner, the detailed description otits use and operation being readily apparent to those skilled in the artand therefore not set forth at length in this specification.

lVe claim gl. A combined abdominal supporter and catamenial sack,comprising an abdominal apron adapted to cover and support the lowerventral portion of tie body and having integral upper and lower lateralextensions and a sack attaching Hap; a waistband adjustably attached tosaid upper lateral extensions; a supersacral band and a subsacral bandadjustably attached to said lower lateral extensions; a dorsalconnecting strap and two dorso-lateral connecting straps attached attheir upper ends to said waistband, intermediate their ends to saidsupersacral band and at their lower ends adjustably attached to saidsub-sacral band; a supporting band attached to said apron and runningfrom one lower lateral extension to the other, said supporting bandlying in the same inclined plane as the super-sacral band; auxiliarysupporting bands attached to said apron and crossing each other near thecenter thereof, each extending from the upper-lateral extension on oneside to a point at the edge of said apron intermediate the lower lateralextension and the sack attaching iap on the other side; and acatainenial sack composed of a single piece of rubber detachablyconnected to said sack attaching iiap and said sub-sacral band.

2. A combined abdominal supporter and catamenial sack, comprising anabdominal apron adapted to cover and support the lower ventral portionot the body; bands attached to said apron and adapted to attach saidapron to a body and to supportthe abdomen; a rubber suspending bandprovided with a plurality of air openings and adapted to be detachablyconnected to said apron and one of said bands, said suspending band alsoprovided with a vulvar opening intermediate its ends; an integral rolllocated around the edge of said vulvar opening; an integral receivingcup located below said opening and on the under side of said suspendingband; an integral receptacle located below said receiving cup, the wallof said cup having'an opening leading into said receptacle; an integralback-draining receptacle located below the rear portion of saidreceiving cup and to the rear of said receptacle, the interior of saidreceptacle communicating with said back-draining receptacle; a screenarw ranged across the opening from said cup to said receptacle; anoutlet valve at the bot tom o1" said receptacle; a screen arranged abovesaid valve; and a sponge holder and sponge therein held locatedintermediate said screens in said retaining receptacle.

In testimony that we claim the above,4 we have hereunto subscribed ournames in the presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLPH H. KEAGY. MARTIN L. KEAGY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. MILLER F. lV. BOND.

